Weather and climate change

Headline:

Increasingly unsettled but turning milder during the coming days.

Today:

Outbreaks of rain and blustery showers will move eastwards across the country, interspersed by sunny spells. A milder day for all compared to recent days, although tempered somewhat by the windy conditions.

Tonight:

Any rain easing and showers becoming confined to the northwest. Clear spells for a time before cloud, rain and strong winds spread eastwards, affecting much of the UK by dawn.

Friday:

Rain, heavy at times, clearing eastwards, and replaced by sunny spells and scattered showers. Windy with coastal gales, especially in the northwest with a risk of severe gales. Mild.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Staying unsettled with further spells of wind and rain moving across the country. Wettest and windiest conditions will be in the north and west. Remaining mild or perhaps very mild.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Thu 20 Feb 2025

The start of this period will see residual rain clearing from the south and far north of the UK, with cooler, fresher, showery conditions becoming established across the UK. Winds will also ease. The rest of next week and into early March is rather uncertain though. It is possible that further spells of mild, wet and windy weather affect the UK, interspersed with colder, showery conditions with a risk of some snow in the north, but there is also a chance that drier, more settled conditions develop at times, especially towards the south or southeast of the UK. Temperatures are likely to be close to or a little above average overall, although with a risk of overnight frost in between frontal systems or in association with any drier spells.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Wed 19 Feb 2025

Much of this period looks like being mainly unsettled, with Atlantic frontal systems moving east across the UK. These will bring spells of rain and strong winds at times, interspersed with some drier, brighter periods but with some showers. However, the start of the period may be drier and more settled, especially towards the south or southeast. It may become a little drier and more settled towards the south or southeast around the middle of the month too, with the wettest and windiest weather possibly becoming more confined towards the northwest. Temperatures are likely to be a little above average overall, although colder spells are likely in between frontal systems with a risk of some snow in the north, and overnight frost is possible under clearer skies.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Wed 19 Feb 2025